Conestoga news

June 1, 2023 9:17 AM

Pride flag raised at Conestoga

The Pride flag has been raised at Conestoga’s Kitchener - Doon campus in honour of Pride month. 

Recognized internationally in June, Pride Month provides an opportunity to celebrate, acknowledge and support the diversity, experiences and contributions made by 2SLGBTQ+ students, employees and community members at the college. 2SLGBTQ+ represents two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and the other identities that fall outside of heterosexual and cisgender paradigms. Pride is about celebration and the perseverance of inclusion.

Flying the Pride flag is one expression of the college’s commitment to support and celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ members of the community. For more information on activities and events, visit the Student Success Portal.

The traditional LGBTQ Pride flag, designed in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, included six colors representing the expression of the joy, beauty and power of the LGBTQ community.

Conestoga has raised the Progress Pride flag designed in 2018 -- a modernized version with additional colours. The half-size stripes represent trans people (light blue, light pink and white), marginalized people of colour (brown, black) as well as those affected by AIDS (black). This version of the Pride flag emphasizes both inclusion and progression.

The Progress Pride flag will fly at the Kitchener - Doon campus until June 30.